Diorama Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for Diorama by Carol Bensimon.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- How does Cecília's career as a taxidermist reflect her approach to dealing with her own past and emotions?
- What role does the political backdrop of Brazil's transition from dictatorship to democracy play in shaping the events of the novel?
- Do you think Cecília was justified in distancing herself from her family and past by moving to Northern California?
- In what ways does the murder of the congressman act as a catalyst for Cecília's personal journey throughout the book?
- How does the author use the concept of dioramas to enhance the storytelling and thematic elements of the novel?
- What are your thoughts on Cecília's relationship with her father, especially considering his alleged involvement in the murder?
- How does the narrative structure, which threads past and present, affect your understanding of Cecília's character and her family's history?
- Do you believe Cecília's father was guilty of the congressman's murder, and how does this influence your perception of Cecília's struggles?
- Can you relate to Cecília's experience of confronting a complicated family history, and how would you handle a similar situation?
- What do you think about the book's ending, and how did it resolve or leave unresolved Cecília's journey and the central mystery?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
Reading Diorama with your book club?
Lapwing keeps your club's reading list, votes and meeting dates in one place, free. Members pick the dates that suit them, and the book everyone wants rises to the top.
Start your book club
